TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Beach chair ..”etiquette” as far as renting?

Sounds like an odd ask, but while Chester at Mullet bangs us for $30 per pair of seats, I’m looking into packlight thanks to some recommendations here.

That said, with our own rented chairs, would you get hassled at Mullet, Friars, Karakter or any beaches if you bring your own? I guess I’m asked by, can they tell you NOT to bring your own gear? I mean we’ll be buying plenty of food and cocktails but figure saving on a seat helps pay for at least 2 rum punches…

There are areas on all beaches where restaurants do not have chairs, and setting your rented chairs there is fine. It would be inappropriate to put your chairs in the area where the restaurant's chairs are located.

Sound and good commonsense advice.

The only restaurant/bar area that I know of where people set up their own chairs is at club-o. Last Nov/Dec there seemed to be an area of people with their own chairs.
Definitely not hassled be the crew.

The Beach is public area , hence one can set their chairs anywhere , but proper proctocal would not be to place your personal chairs in the same area lol.

Fair enough. Gotta keep my funds allocated for the rum....

Rum is cheap on the island.

Cheaper than Chester’s chairs, lol🤘🏽

as a follow up, is it difficult to access beaches like the Kim Sha and .... the beaches in Simpson Bay that appear to be near BSV/Dinghys and Karakters? Seems like parking by these beaches would be difficult?

Just be respectful of their areas.

Kim Sha has no parking at all., and really not much room to put up your own chairs. On Simpson Bay itself, there is a huge empty swath of beach beside the fence for the airport, which runs from Karakter to BSV. However, parking to access it is problematical. BSV is gated, so you couldn't park there. Dinghy has a big parking lot, but I am thinking that they would not be happy with you parking there and hauling chairs through their property, unless you make reservations for lunch or something. Same is true with Karakter. There are some side streets off White Sands Road that you MIGHT be able to find someplace to park on the street, I don't know.

Honestly, to me, it's not worth the trouble to haul chairs somewhere, but your mileage may vary.

There is parking near Karakter for access to the beach between the Boon and Karakters. To park and go to Simpson Bay Beach (KimSha) park in the lot by Captains but not much open space there either anymore - personally I would
Never swim there - but that’s me!!! You can park in the lot at Mullet and walk to open areas between Rosie’s and Kalatua (but there is now water sports set up as well - or past Kalatua and still open space available. Or go to Plum or Longue and there are lots and no problems with chair set up anywhere. Or Rouge the beach is yours.